Possibility of a bridge tour?

[SarahQ]

I know some of the HAL regulars can give me some advice on this one.

 

A member on our roll call mentioned that on Celebrity, CC members were given a bridge tour (which was set up beforehand of course). This was recently, definitely post 9/11.

 

Has this/could this happen on HAL? Does anyone have any experience with requesting a bridge tour? I know it doesn't hurt to ask, but I'm already bothering them with so many requests, that I don't want to ask for something that I'm not going to get.

 

Any info y'all could provide would be greatly appreciated :)

[jtl513]

Has this/could this happen on HAL? Does anyone have any experience with requesting a bridge tour?

To paraphrase John D. Rockefeller: if you have to ask here, you're not going to get one! :D You have to be a VVIP, or be related to someone on the crew, or have some other special connection.

[JimVrhovac]

Since 9-11 they have not been allowed.

 

Have heard of special occasions when in European waters that it has been done. But very infrequesntly.

 

Here is what it looks like

 

Ruth & Jim

[mamaofami]

Here is a picture posted by VK McKarty on her thread about the Eurodam. How did she get this picture if not on a bridge tour, or is it from the Eurodam blog?:confused:

 

 

[sail7seas]

That's the sort of photo which could have been used in all sorts of ways.......advertising, promotion, blog etc

 

BUT it is also possible VK McKarty did visit the bridge.

 

 

 

[mamaofami]

I knew I had seen this photo before. Just went on to the Eurodam blog, used the search feature and put in bridge and came up with this picture.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

You need to be a VERY, VERY VIP to get a tour of the bridge anymore.

[monsoon20009]

Bridge tours can be arranged for deluxe suite passengers if the captain approves, but this isn't publicized. We had one on the Noordam last year--the concierge in the Neptune Lounge arranged it for us. We were even able to take the two couples from our dinner table. Pics are in the link in my signature line.

[MightyQuinn]

Arzz posted today (Cruising Grand on the Amsterdam) that one of the perks of a Grand Voyage is an invitation to the bridge for a tour. Here's her description:

 

One of the many perks of a Grand Cruise includes the ability to be invited up to the bridge for a tour. Basically all you have to do is know to ask. This privilege is not available on a normal cruise.

 

What I saw, learned and did:

 

In the corridor outside the bridge are large, framed, detailed deck diagrams of each deck of the Amsterdam. Much more detailed than those provided to us by the cruise line.

 

I actually got to walk out on the starboard bridge wing just like the crew members and officers do when we come into and leave port. There is actually one section of the bridge wing about two square feet in area that is made of glass, like a downward skylight, that allows the ship’s crew to navigate downward as well as front, back and side to side. Standing on this glass section certainly provided an interesting view of the water as we steamed along towards Japan.

 

Many of us have seen the names of ships painted on the docks in the Caribbean. Apparently when a ship repeatedly comes into the same port (say once a week in season) they can use the downward “skylight” to help line themselves up with the name of their ship on the dock and know that they are docked in the proper place. I, for one, never realized that these painted names were anything more than graffiti.

 

We were shown the many ways that the ship can be controlled from various places on the bridge to both provide access to control from anywhere as well as redundancy of systems.

 

The front windows on the bridge have large window wipers to keep them clear in inclement weather, as well as heaters to defrost ice for the cold climates. There are also a couple of special circular sections of front window that can be set to spin in very wet weather -- the spinning action clears the water from the window for a continuous forward view. Standard wipers require a delay between swipes as the wiper blade moves from left to right which can cause small moments of poor visibility. This system is designed to create areas of window that will have no gaps in visibility. Apparently the weak point of this well designed system is that just seeing through a perfect window does not particularly help you see through the weather.

 

All important systems have multiple back ups. The ship has several electronic navigational systems -- and the ship still requires constant paper charting to record the ship’s course. If all else fails, the bridge has two sextons that can be used to navigate and all officers must know how to use a sexton.

 

The same redundancy exists in their radar systems. Except for some spots of weather outside (as today is a rainy day) there were no other ships visible on today’s radar (there had been one ship earlier in the day). I guess out here in the Pacific we are rather alone. I believe that the radar is adjusted to show four hours out but I am not sure that I heard that correctly.

 

There was a large display with a diagram of each of the ship’s decks with lighted displays to monitor the status of each fire alarm as well as the location and status of all fire doors.

 

And then there is the security system that includes video monitors of all outside decks as well as all points of entry to the ship. Remember, on board, big brother is always watching -- at least when you are on public decks.

 

Most of the ships steering (when controlled manually and not by computer) is done by large knobs or joysticks. This ship does, however, have one very small steering wheel.

 

Apparently there is a shortage of Dutch officers so that Holland America has begun to hire other nationalities as officers.

 

Some in our group asked about how much control a local pilot gets of the ship. The answer was that it varied with the perceived skills of the pilots as determined by the ship’s captain, as final responsibility for the ship and its complement does rest with the captain regardless of who is actually steering the ship. The one interesting exception to this is on the Panama Canal where the canal authority takes temporary ownership of the ships as they pass through the canal. Anything that happens to the ship then becomes the responsibility of the Panama Canal Authority.

 

So it's an simple as that. All you need to do is take a Grand Voyage!! :D:D

[howard6933]

You have two chances of getting a bridge tour on a 7 day cruise and the chances are "slim" and "none". In some extremely rare cases a tour may be available. A couple of years ago on a Princess ship, being Elite members of the Captains Circle, we were invited to a lunch with the captain and his senior staff. :) I sent the captain a short note thankling him for the nice lunch and lo and behold, I got an answer from him and an invitation to tour the bridge, at a certain day and time. It was a nice surprise and we enjoyed it very much. :cool:

[Bill HaHa]

Back in 1999 we had a bridge tour. Anyone could sign up for it. Quite interestering. We were there for about 20 minutes or so.

[jjb415]

Quote from Arzz:

 

"Many of us have seen the names of ships painted on the docks in the Caribbean. Apparently when a ship repeatedly comes into the same port (say once a week in season) they can use the downward “skylight” to help line themselves up with the name of their ship on the dock and know that they are docked in the proper place. I, for one, never realized that these painted names were anything more than graffiti."

 

Very interesting, I'm glad to know that now. Thanks Arzz & MightyQuinn !! :)

[JimVrhovac]

Those are so the Captain knows he is in the right parking space and in the right port.....

 

Ruth & Jim

[Himself]

9/11/2001 changed a lot of things and one of the things that went was the bridge tour.

[JimVrhovac]

It is still out there but they are very very selective who they take on the bridge and it is generally by invitation not asking to have it done.

 

The time we went was kinda unusual. The Captain had done our renewal of vows ceremony the night before and say him by the front desk carrying a plate of cookies. I asked him if he was filling in for one of the waiters today.

 

We talked for a while and I asked him if there was anyway I could contact corporate headquarters and get permission to tour the bridge on a future cruise. He asked me how many people and I replied the several couples that were at the renewal ceremony the night before.

 

He told us to be at a specific spot at a specific time and not to tell anyo=ne why you were to be there.

 

All showed up but one couple and we were escorted to the bridge. The officers on duty did not know we were coming. The chased down the captain and he joined us on the bridge for about 1 1/2 hours. Was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us. The couple that did not show up is still kicking themselves.

 

I really did not ask for a tour on his ship, he offered it and that is the way it is now.

 

Good luck, maybe one of these cruises you will make it to the bridge.

 

Ruth & Jim

[Himself]

Jim and Ruth:

 

I made that tour several times before September 11, 2001. I think I did it in June of 2001. It used to be rather easy to arrange. I am glad you got to do it.